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Coleman Sun Dome Tent Review [Dark Room Technology… Wait, What?]

When it comes to camping, Coleman is certainly a household name. They make everything from coolers, to grills, to lanterns, and of course tents.

We wanted to take a peek at a household tent name within the Coleman line.

sun dome 4p tent box front

We wanted to check out one of their most popular offerings… the Sun Dome tent!

coleman sun dome 4p tent parts

Here are the components of the Sun Dome 4p tent from Coleman. Pretty simple setup!

Features of the Coleman Sun Dome Tent

coleman sun dome 4p tent box back

The Coleman Sun Dome tent has several advertised features… let’s take a look!

Below are some of the features of the Sun Dome 4P tent from Coleman:

  • Dome tent with a sturdy frame that can withstand winds of up to 35 miles per hour
  • Darkroom Technology, blocking 90% of sun’s light
  • The Sun Dome 4p sleeps up to 4 people
  • Measures 9 ft x 7 ft and has a center height of 4 ft 11 inches
  • Very easy setup, at only 10-15 minutes
  • A great tent for backpacking, as it folds up and packs away into a small carrying bag.
  • Weathertec system with patented welded floors and inverted seams to keep you dry
  • Large windows and a ground vent for superior ventilation
  • Measures 7 x 5 feet with 4-foot center height
  • An “E-Port” that makes it easy to bring in electrical power inside the tent
  • Average Price $125-$140
  • Comes with a 1-year limited warranty




Coleman Sun Dome 4p Tent Setup

coleman sund dome 4p tent two-pole setup

Setup was not difficult to figure out, with the tent only needing to be staked down and the two poles inserted.

Coleman Sun Dome 4P Tent 10-15 min setup time

It took about 10-15 minutes (without reading directions) to set up the Sun Dome 4P tent.

coleman sundome 4p tent side view

The weather dome cover was very easy to install, using only one short pole and some tie downs.




“Darkroom Technology” Inside A Tent Box?

coleman sun dome 4p tent box darkroom technology

One of the features we were most interested in was the “Darkroom Technology,” which Coleman advertises as blocking 90% of the sun, so you can sleep better once the sun comes up, or even go to bed early!

coleman sun dome 4p tent front tent logo

We headed inside the tent to see what this “darkroom technology” was all about…

sun dome 4p tent light coming through

The tent material did block a lot of the sunlight, with the mesh screen being where most of the light seemed to be coming in.



Check out our YouTube video of setting up the Coleman Sun Dome 4p tent!




Final Thoughts on the Coleman Sun Dome 4p Tent with Darkroom Technology

We picked an extremely hot and sunny day to set up the Coleman Sun Dome 4p tent. However, that turned out to be perfect, because we were able to get a good feel for how much light and heat the Darkroom Technology blocks.

Well, it was still really hot inside the tent. And, while we didn’t have any kind of light meter to test the light level, it was in fact significantly darker inside the tent.

coleman sun dome 4p tent pack

The Sun Dome 4p tent folded up nice and neat and went right back into the small carrying bag fairly easily!

All in all, the Sun Dome 4p tent seems like a great tent for the money!

Happy camping!

One Response

  1. Tam Ross says:

    I’ve been a car camper for many years and ready to get a new tent. My current Coleman dome tent has a tarp like bottom so I have never used a footprint. Any recommendations if I need a footprint? would love some tent recommendations for a 4 person tent. Looking to spend about $200. I guess this specific one is a good candidate.

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